Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Horshack is Dead. I Didn't Do It

I was called in to audition for “The Angry Guy” and around
me were bean bags, cans, a wiffle ball bat, etc. I sang well enough for a part
that was too low for my voice.

I was called back. And Horshack, wound up and wild, kept screaming at me in a
strong NY accent, “Get angrier. Get angrier. Swing that bat! I want to see your
anger!”

So---I got angrier.

“More!”

So I slammed the wiffle bat against the audition table, not
near anyone, but it caused a wave vibration through the cheap folding tables
and Horshack’s diet coke went flying in the air and thudded and emptied onto
the gray and stained industrial carpeting. Everyone got really upset that I had
crossed some line and felt the need to protect Ron from this lunatic actor
wielding a long plastic yellow bat and it was clear that I was not going to get
the part, and I did not.

A helper cleaned up the soda. Ron just stared at it contemptuously.

Something about a real can of soda really getting spilled
showed me off as an out-of-control loon but it was really just an accident.

This was not long after I was directed in a reality TV show
by Potsie from Happy Days.

It is sad to watch the sitcom stars of your youth directing
questionable productions in the San Fernando Valley.
I did have a crush on Potsie, the loveable dork, when I was a kid. As an adult actor on set in a Von’s parking lot in Sherman Oaks, acting like a mugger, all I could focus on between
takes were the deep lines in the back of Potsie’s neck and I thought, “This
California sun does a number on people. I am going to make sure I stay inside
as much as possible.” He did set me up with some agent meetings. He was kind.

Is it easier to be a has-been or a never-was? I don’t know.
But that kind of competition sure is something they should do on reality TV. Produce it in Van Nuys.
Hand out wiffle ball bats…

I also had a crush on Mrs. Kotter. She was my type. I was a
bi-kid.

Rest in Peace Ron Palillo. Sorry I spilled your soft drink.
But I have to say, you did kind of overreact after steering me into a froth and then made it all about you. But I do wish you were still alive. Because, you know, death is beat.

1 comment:

Oh, Don! So many of us in the piano bars in New York met and knew Ron personally. He exchanged numbers with everyone and he threw parties (and so did we) in a big frenzy of fun. He was extraordinary and unpretentious. He was amazingly enthusiastic about other people and generous with his humor. However, he might have been sober at your audition.